Kite



J. AQCHAPMAN July 5, 1960 KITE Filed Jan. 17, 1958 INVENTOR.

United Stat s tm v.

KIIE

Jaek A. Chapman, 1014 N. Bagley, Dallas 11, Ten.

Filed Jan. 17, 1958, Ser. No. 709,489

9 Claims, (Cl. 244-153) This invention relates generally to kites. More particularly the invention has reference to a kite of generally circular configuration, having a particularlyimproved, dished formation adapted to increase measurablythe .adaptability of the kite tivelylight winds. 1

The main object of the invention is to provide a kite of generally improved construction, so designed that it can be flown in a wind which is insufiicient to support an ordinary kite.

Among more specific objects of the invention are the following:

To provide a kite the full area of which will be exposed broadside or perpendicularly to the wind currents;

To so design the structure that pressurized air will be forced about the contoured section of the kite, providing extra lift;

To provide a wrap-around contour to the kite, which will give the same a significant lift in all positions of flight;

i To impart measurably increased stability to the 'te, through a flanged peripheral construction;

' To provide an airfoil characteristic in the kite, which for sustained flight in relawill be applicable to not only the circular shape illustrated and described by way of example, but also, to various other configurations such as octagonal, square, and triangular kites;

To facilitate assembly or disassembly of the kites;

To provide a kite which, despite its relatively low cost, will still be rugged and capable of withstanding heavy use, so that it can be adapted not only for pure amusement purposes, but also for use in the military services, by meteorological authorities, etc.; and

To provide a kite which can be die formed from thin sheet aluminum or other light weight materials. 1

Other objects will appear from the following description, the claims appended thereto, and from the annexed drawing, in which like reference characters designate like parts throughout the several views, and wherein:

Figure l is a rear elevational view of the kite, viewing the back thereof;

Figure 2 is a sectional view diametrically through the kite, substantially on line 2-2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a side elevational view of the kite in flight;

Figure 4 is a reduced elevational view of the kite,,showing the side thereof exposed directly to the wind currents, that is, showing the kite as seen from the ground; and

Figure 5 is a still further reduced, diagrammatic view showing the flight pattern of the kite.

Referring to the drawing in detail, generally designated at is the body of the kite constituting the present invention. In the illustrated example, the kite is of circular configuration. However, it could be otherwise shaped, as indicated in the foregoing objects. I

.In any event, it may appropriately be considered that although the skin of the kite is continuous overthe full it may be appropriately stated that the area of the skin 2,943,829 Patented July 5, 1960 is divided into two segments, in the sense of the airfoil characteristics thereof. These area larger or lower segment 12 (see Figure 4) and an upper or smaller segment 14. Segment 12 is bounded by radial lines A, C radiating from the center point of the kite, and by a portion D of the kite periphery. Said portion D extends the full distance between the outer ends of the radial, imaginary lines A, C, over an angular distance of 225 degrees of the full circumference of the kite.

The segment 14 is smaller and is bounded by radial lines A, C and by a line B constituting the remainder of the periphery of the kite. The line B extends, as will be understood, through the remaining portion of the kite circumference, that is, through 135 degrees. a The particular characteristics of the segments 12, 14 in relation to one another, for the purpose of producing improved flight characteristics when impinged upon by air current, will be described in greater detail hereinafter, during the discussion of the operation of the kite.

Considering the construction of the kite, the body 10 includes a frame generally designated at 16, over which is stretched the skin 18 of the kite, the frame16 and skin ls'cooperating to define said body. The frame is so constructed that through the full angular distance measured along the arcuate periphery of segment 12, there is a rearwardly directed flange 19 which is a 225 degree segment of a frustum of a cone. The ends of the flange have been designated at 20 in Figure 4, and are in line with the radial, imaginary dividing lines A, C that divide the segments 12, 14 from 'one another.

Over the remaining portion of the periphery of the kite, that is, over the angular distance measured along the arcuate segment 14, there is a flange portion 22 which, viewed in cross section at any point along its length (see Figure 2) is arcuately outwardly bowed, providing a forwardly rounded leading edge on the airfoil; The flanges 19, 22 are formed at their back edges with inwardly directed lips 24, 28 respectively. Lip 24, and for that matter the entire back edge of flange 19, is curved on a radius slightly greaterthan lip 28. As a result, the end portions 26 of the lip 24 are angled inwardly or offset, to connect the lips 24, 28 (see Figure l) in a manner effective to provide a continuous lip over the full circumference of the kite.

Bisecting the lower segment 12 is a stabilizing fin 30, which radiates from the center point of the kite, projecting radially outwardly beyond the periphery of the Bracing the fin and providing a connection between the fin and the frame of the kite are braces 32, 33 (see Figure 7 but also, serves to stabilizethe kite toprevent rocking of the same about its center. The fin, thus, discharges the function of a tail on a conventional kite. In this connection, it may be that in some commercial embodiments, the fin might be omitted and a cloth tail might be used to provide the weighting and stabilizing action,

The lower segment 12, as previously noted, has an arcuate flange portion 19 extending the full angular distance along the arcuate outer edge of said lower segment 12. Flange portion 19 is segmentally frusto-conical. The area of the segment 12 inwardly of the flange portion 19 has been designated at 37 in Figure 4, and

. I constitutesthe area bounded by radial lines A and C shallow cone segment, so that when the skin is stretched thereover, the segmentally shallowly, conical body part 37 of lower segment 12 is produced. Struts 34, at their outer ends, are merged into struts 35 of flange portion 19, andbraces- 36 are secured to. and extend diagonally between struts 34 and 35. n

. Frame 16 also includes radial struts 38, over which is, stretched that atterns skin that falls in the area of the u per segment '14. The radial struts 138 also he in a segment of a shallow cone, theshallewly conical body edge 31 offl-ange portion 19-, whereas'the body part 59 merges, ata shorter lldistan'ce from thecenter point of the kite, into the rounded flange portion 22. 7

' The-radial struts 38, atktheir outer ends, are fixedly secured to arcuate'extension struts 40 which are curved in such a manner that when the skin is stretched thereover, the curved flange portion 22 is produced. No bracing is here needed, view of the bracing action produced by-the smooth mei ge'rof the straight struts '38 '7 into the arcuate extension struts 40. k

. A bridle 'includesi an upperline 42, a lower line 44,

and side lines 46, radiating from a common connection 41 to points 48, 50, and 52 of the frame, at which points the. lines of the bridl'e are connected to the frame by means of'eyes' or equivalent fasteners. At the common connection"47' of the lines of the bridle said lines are not fly in this position, but

the pointof move'along the leading edge as the kite changes its angularity to the ground.

It will be understood that inmaking reference to the fact that the kite does not fly in the take-off position, this term is intended to mean that the kite is not per pendicular to the direction of the wind when in its normal flying position shown as the. uppermost position in Figure 5.

Of course, with the lifting force applied'to the kite in the mentionedperpendicular position, WhlCll'lS substantially that shown as the lowermost position in Figure 5, the kite will fly at least momentarily, in the sense thatit will move upwardly'from said lowermost position. In other words, from. the lowermostposition,

with the strong lifting force directed therea-gainst, the

kite rises through the several positions shown in Figure 5 to its normal flying position, which as previously noted is the uppermost, Figure 5 position.

Before concludingthe discussion of the COIlStllljCfiQIl,

it is appropriate to note that the body parts 373139 of; segments 1-2, 14 respectively, together define a mainparti generally designated 60, oftheislhell-like body 100i ithe' kite. Said main part60 man; be considered as comp isi ing the entire portion of the bodythat is of the previously" discussed shallowly conicalshape, that.is, 1the generally circular, shallowly-dished central portion, to diiferent 19, 22 are secured. a V H 7 r It is also appropriate to note, toprovidea full er; standing of the construction, particularly with reference to the claims appended hereto, thatthe fronti'of the 'kitef can he considered as the part that is faced towardthe connected to. a tetheringor anchoringline 54. Point 48 will be noted as disposed'a short distance above the center point 56 of the frame, in vertical alignment there with,'.while1 point 50 'is disposed upon the stabilizing fin air currents impinging against the kite, while: the rear strut 30 intermediate the ends of this strut, in diametridaily alignedposition in relation to the point 48. Points 52; arerdispo'sed upon the periphery 'of'the frame, sym- 'mQt-rically irr'respectto'and' atbpposite, sides of the points- 48,50 as'clearly seen iii Figure 4. 1

Q In use of the. kite, the particular'manner in' which the air currents'impinge thereupon produce the highlydesin able. flight characteristics; As will be seen from Figure 3, aircurrents traveling, substantially horizontally, that is, generally parallelto. the. ground surface, are designated by arrows B. These impinge, upon the surfaces of the upper and lower; segments. .The air impinging upon the segments of the periphery of portion canbe consideredas: the portion, of thekite that is on the lee side, so to speak, with respect to th'ewiiid'. A In Figure 2,thus,- the frontffbf the kite: is the "convex surface of the main part 60, shown as the surface" faced to the leftrin Figure 2, while the rear portion-ofthe body is the concave surface-or face thereofifl-f Thujs, it will'be noted that the'fia'nge portions "19, 22 extend rearwardly from the front of the body, viewing. the same as in- Figure 2. In Figure 1, one is looking at the kite 7 from the rear, while in Figure 4, one is observing the upper segment 14 travels upwardly, as shown. by arrows F in Figure These air. currents oontinueabout the arcuate'sur-face'of flange portion 22, as shown by arrows Gain Figure 3.. The aircurrents so impinging impart lift to the kite in the direction of an arrow H in Figure 3. Other air currents E' impinge upon the area of the lower segment 12. These flow-radially outwardly along lines designated by arrows I, imparting a push or lifting action along. the line K shown inFigure 3, this lifting action being along a line extending rearwardly upwardly from the kite while the lifting action shown at. H is along a line extending forwardly upwardly from the kite. The particular construction is one which has a highly desirable. characteristic of an airfoil, the application of this feature, analogous to that found in an airplane 'wing,

being such. as to make it possible to fly a kite in a wind which is' insufficient to support an ordinary kite. Further, the aerodynamic characteristics of the kite are such asto permit the full area *0fthe kite to be exposed perpendicularly, or substantially so, to the wind currents,

'Whenthe :kitenear-ground level, with pressurized air being forced about the marginal portions of the: kite to add extra lift.- The particular construction-of the marginal portions further, gives the kite significant lift in all positions-of flight.

; seenfrom Figure- 5', the fact that the kite is perpendipularto theiwind. ontake-ofi is very important, as the v 'satthe. in this position. 'I'he kite does kite from the. front. The outside surface of'the shallowly-conical main part 60, that is, the convex surface thereof, defines the front of the kite. 3

Materials have not beenspecified herein, but obviously, they canbe varied according to the desires of the nianufacturerc The kite could be die formed from thin sheet aluminum, and in some forms, thestrength of the skin may be sufncient to eliminate' alli'or part ofthe' framing.

Thenagain, the frame can be made of a very light mate.

rial such as balsa wood, while the skin may be a fabric. All of this, of course, is at the option of the particular manufacturer.

It is believed apparent that the invention is not necessarily confined to the specific useor uses thereofdescribed above,'since it may be utilized for any purpose to,

which it may be suited. Norv isthe invention to be necessarily limited to the specific construction, illustrated and described, since such construction is only intended a to be illustrative of the principles off'operation and the means presently devised to carry out said principles, itbGIHgCOIlSldfilEd that the invention comprch ends: any

minor change in constructionthat may he permitted 1 within the scope of the appended claims. What is claimed is: 1

l. A kite comprising ashell-like body havin'gq at: its

front a main part disposed in a generally central-posh.

tron andihaving' a shallowly conical shape, the convex surface of said main part defining-said frontI of;the body, said body having a lower flange portion projecting rearwardly from onejsegrnentiof the. peri'pheryfof sa'iiilmain part and having a generally ,frusto-conicali shape, o Y Q f Han y fl n j qfi q 1P9 atme we e which the flange, portions 7 wardly from the remaining segment of said periphery of the main part and arcuately bowed outwardly nom the body. p

2. A kite comprising a shell-like body having at its front a concavo-convex main part disposed in a generally central position of the body, the convex surface of said main part defining said front of the body, said body having a lower flange portion projecting rearwardly from one segment of the periphery of said main part and having a generally frusto-conic-al shape, the body having an upper flange portion projecting rearwardly from the remaining segment of said periphery of the main part and arcuately bowed outwardly from the body.

3. A kite comprising a shell-like body having at its front a main part disposed in a generally central position and having a shallowly conical shape, the convex surface of said main part defining said front of the body, said body having a lower flange portion projecting rearwardly from one segment of the periphery of the main part and having a generally frusto-conical shape, said lower flange portion being curved about the center of the main part, the body having an upper flange portion projecting rearwardly from the remaining segment of the periphery of the main part and arcuately bowed outwardly from the body.

4. A kite comprising a shell-like body having at its front a main part disposed in a generally central position and having a shallowlyconical shape, the convex surface of said main part defining said front of the body, said body having a lower flange port-ion projecting rearwardly from one segment of the periphery of the main part and having a generally frusto-conical shape, said lower flange portion being curved about the center of the main part, the body having an upper flange portion projecting rearwardly from the remaining segment of the periphery of the main part and arcuately bowed outwardly from the body, said upper flange. portion also being curved about the center of the main part.

5. A kite comprising a shell-like body having at its front a main part disposed in a generally central position and having a shallowly conical shape, the convex surface of said main part defining said front of the body,

said body having a lower flange portion projecting rearwardly from one segment of the periphery ofthe main part and having a generally frusto-conical shape, said lower flange portion being curved about the center of the main part, the body having an upper portion projecting rearwardly from the remaining segment of the periphery of the main part and arcuately bowed outwardly from the body, said upper flange portion also being curved about the center of the main part, said lower and upper flange portions having lips at their back edges, the lips being curved about said center with the lip of the lower flange portion being curved on a radius slightly greater than that about which the lip of the upper flange portion is curved.

6. A kite comprising a shell-like body having at its front a main part disposed in a generally central position and having a shallowly conical shape, the convex surface of said main part defining said front of the body, said body having a lower flange portion projecting rearwardly from one segment of the periphery of the main part and having a generally frusto-conioal shape, said lower flange portion being curved about the center of the main part, the body having an upper flange portion projecting rearwardly from the remaining segment of the periphery of the main part and arcuately bowed outwardly from the body; and stabilizing means carried by said body.

7. A kite comprising a shell-like body having at its front a main part disposed in a generally central position and having a shallowly conical shape, the convex surface of said main part defining said front of the body, said body having a lower flange portion projecting rearwardly from one segment of the periphery of the main part and having .a generally frusto-conical shape, said lower flange portion being curved about the center of the main part, the body having an upper flange portion projecting rearwardly from the remaining segment of the periphery of the main part and arcuately bowed outwardly from the body; and stabilizing means carried by said body, comprising a fin radiating from the center of the body and extending downwardly from said center to the periphery of the body.

8. A kite comprising a shell-like body having at its front a main part disposed in a generally central position and having a shallowly conical shape, the convex surface of said main part defining said front of the body, said body having a lower flange portion projecting rearwardly from the periphery of the main part and having a generally frusto-conical shape, said lower flange portion being curved about the center of the main part, the body having an upper flange portion projecting rearwardly from the periphery of the main part and arcu ately forming a shallow cone the convex surface-of which defines the front of the body, the upper segment having a flange portion projecting rearwardly from the periphery of the body part of the upper segment and arcuately outwardly bowed from the body, the lower segment having a flange portion also projecting rearwardly from the body of the lower segment and formed to a frusto-conical shape.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,762,551 Gambito et al. June 10, 1930 2,588,293 Roe Mar. 4, 1952 2,811,327 Roe Oct. 29, 1957 

